Monday, May 16, 2016

Cell Block 7 Show

The works of students in Jackson College’s Prison
Education Initiative art classes will be featured at Cell Block 7 in Jackson
starting Wednesday, June 3 and continuing through the fall.

“Doing Time With
the Masters” features artwork and artifacts collected by Assistant Professor
Tom McMillen-Oakley during his classes at Parnall Road and Cooper Street
facilities this year. Incarcerated students enjoyed reaching beyond their
confines through the journey of art history. From historical periods through
the modern era, they learned to understand art both for its cultural
significance, as well as interpreting their own experiences through new
perspectives. For example, a discussion on the Renaissance and the “rebirth” of
the world lead to a discussion of how the students were being changed for the
better behind bars.

“I hope the community enjoys viewing the art works as
much as I enjoyed teaching these amazing students,” McMillen-Oakley said.

Jackson College’s Prison Education Initiative offers
inmates the opportunity to earn college credits through self-pay, or with
assistance from a Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education grant from
the Vera Institute of Justice.